Top White House telecom adviser David Redl resigns

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) chief David Redl resigned abruptly from his position on Thursday, officials confirmed.

Redl has been at the helm of the NTIA, the body tasked with advising the Trump administration’s telecom policy within the Department of Commerce, since November 2017.

An NTIA spokeswoman said that Diane Rinaldo would be taking over as acting administrator. Rinaldo is a former staffer with the House Intelligence Committee who has been Redl’s deputy at NTIA for the past year.

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Ajit Pai, the Republican chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, in a statement thanked Redl for his service and wished him “all the best in his future endeavors.”

“David Redl is a longtime colleague, who served with distinction during his 18 months at NTIA,” Pai said in a statement. “He was a vocal advocate within the Department of Commerce for repurposing federal spectrum for commercial use and fostering the private sector’s lead in 5G deployment. I thank David for his service and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Redl was an adviser to Rep. (R-Ore.) during his tenure as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Commerce Secretary in a statement also thanked Redl for his service.

“I thank Assistant Secretary Redl and Assistant Secretary [Mike] Platt for their service to , the Department of Commerce, and the American people,” Ross said in a statement. “I wish them well.”

Redl was the assistant secretary for communications and information at the Department of Commerce.

President Trump nominated Redl to the position in May 2017. His confirmation in the Senate was held up briefly when Sen. (R-Texas) raised objections to Redl’s position on global control of web domains, but he was ultimately confirmed in November of that year.

The NTIA, a federal agency within the Department of Commerce, is the White House’s primary adviser on telecom policy, including broadband access and spectrum.

Michael Platt, the assistant secretary of commerce for legislative and intergovernmental affairs, also resigned from the department, according to Ross.